Longtime Wenner Media Execs Quit

On the eve of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, longtime Wenner Media executive John Gruber has resigned, according to sources familiar with the situation. Gruber over the years served in several key roles, including controller and chief financial officer. In 2005, he was named COO, replacing Kent Brownridge, Wenner Media founder Jann Wenner's consigliere. Gruber is said to be heading to a nonprofit.

This is the highest-ranking executive to leave Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men's Journal, since Brownridge's departure. But not the only one this week. On Monday, Rolling Stone publisher Chris McLoughlin announced he was leaving after 11 months on the job (he had moved over from Men's Journal) for a digital network gig.

A Wenner spokeswoman confirmed the departures.

It hasn't been a great week for Wenner. Gruber was ordered to fire Rolling Stone's head of brand and content and marketing solutions over the phone while the exec was on vacation after newly promoted Wenner Media digital chief Gus Wenner was said to have told his father that he didn't like him, the sources added.

On the eve of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, longtime Wenner Media executive John Gruber has resigned, according to sources familiar with the situation. Gruber over the years served in several key roles, including controller and chief financial officer. In 2005, he was named COO, replacing Kent Brownridge, Wenner Media founder Jann Wenner's consigliere. Gruber is said to be heading to a nonprofit.

This is the highest-ranking executive to leave Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men's Journal, since Brownridge's departure. But not the only one this week. On Monday, Rolling Stone publisher Chris McLoughlin announced he was leaving after 11 months on the job (he had moved over from Men's Journal) for a digital network gig.

A Wenner spokeswoman confirmed the departures.

It hasn't been a great week for Wenner. Gruber was ordered to fire Rolling Stone's head of brand and content and marketing solutions over the phone while the exec was on vacation after newly promoted Wenner Media digital chief Gus Wenner was said to have told his father that he didn't like him, the sources added.